And this girl was French, not likely to lose her head, or accept any

unlegalised position. Moreover, Soames himself disliked the thought of

that. He had tasted of the sordid side of sex during those long years

of forced celibacy, secretively, and always with disgust, for he was

fastidious, and his sense of law and order innate. He wanted no hole

and corner liaison. A marriage at the Embassy in Paris, a few months'

travel, and he could bring Annette back quite separated from a past

which in truth was not too distinguished, for she only kept the accounts

in her mother's Soho Restaurant; he could bring her back as something

very new and chic with her French taste and self-possession, to reign

at 'The Shelter' near Mapledurham. On Forsyte 'Change and among his

riverside friends it would be current that he had met a charming French

girl on his travels and married her. There would be the flavour of

romance, and a certain cachet about a French wife. No! He was not at

all afraid of that. It was only this cursed undivorced condition of his,

and--and the question whether Annette would take him, which he dared not

put to the touch until he had a clear and even dazzling future to offer

her.

In his aunts' drawing-room he heard with but muffled ears those usual

questions: How was his dear father? Not going out, of course, now that

the weather was turning chilly? Would Soames be sure to tell him that

Hester had found boiled holly leaves most comforting for that pain in

her side; a poultice every three hours, with red flannel afterwards. And

could he relish just a little pot of their very best prune preserve--it

was so delicious this year, and had such a wonderful effect. Oh! and

about the Darties--had Soames heard that dear Winifred was having a most

distressing time with Montague? Timothy thought she really ought to have

protection It was said--but Soames mustn't take this for certain--that

he had given some of Winifred's jewellery to a dreadful dancer. It was

such a bad example for dear Val just as he was going to college. Soames

had not heard? Oh, but he must go and see his sister and look into it at

once! And did he think these Boers were really going to resist? Timothy

was in quite a stew about it. The price of Consols was so high, and he

had such a lot of money in them. Did Soames think they must go down if

there was a war? Soames nodded. But it would be over very quickly. It

would be so bad for Timothy if it wasn't. And of course Soames' dear

father would feel it very much at his age. Luckily poor dear Roger

had been spared this dreadful anxiety. And Aunt Juley with a little

handkerchief wiped away the large tear trying to climb the permanent

pout on her now quite withered left cheek; she was remembering dear

Roger, and all his originality, and how he used to stick pins into

her when they were little together. Aunt Hester, with her instinct for

avoiding the unpleasant, here chimed in: Did Soames think they would

make Mr. Chamberlain Prime Minister at once? He would settle it all so

quickly. She would like to see that old Kruger sent to St. Helena. She

could remember so well the news of Napoleon's death, and what a relief

it had been to his grandfather. Of course she and Juley--"We were in

pantalettes then, my dear"--had not felt it much at the time.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024